Two U.S. shrimp companies filed a 62-page complaint alleging Indian shrimp producer Nekkanti Sea Foods harmed them by using forced labor that unfairly reduced labor costs.
The lower costs allowed Nekkanti to undercut prices on U.S. shrimp and flood the market, constituting a violation of unfair competition under the Tariff Act of 1930, according to the complaint.
The filing names seven companies, including ALDI stores and Walker-based Meijer, which sells the shrimp under its store brand and “Frederik’s by Meijer” label.
Complainants are asking the commission to block Nekkanti shrimp from entering the U.S., and to bar Meijer and other retailers from selling the product.
In a statement, the company responded:
"Meijer is committed to responsible sourcing and does not tolerate forced labor in our supply chain. We are aware of the complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission naming several retailers and their suppliers. We expect all of our suppliers to comply with applicable laws and our explicit standards for ethical conduct, and we take appropriate action if those standards are not met."
The trade commission has until November 27 to decide whether to launch an investigation.
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